• 2016 Arctic sea ice sets another record low wintertime maximum extent

    According to scientists at the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSICD) and NASA, the 2016 Arctic sea ice appears to have reached a record low wintertime maximum extent for the second year in a row. On March 24, Arctic sea ice extent peaked at 14.52 million square…

  • Massive dust storm sweeps through Kathmandu, Nepal

    A massive dust storm engulfed Kathmandu, Nepal for 45 minutes on March 28, 2016, injuring, at least, a half a dozen people and causing traffic chaos. For the past one week, Kathmandu and many other parts of the country have been shrouded in a blanket of haze, with…

  • Severe sandstorm hits Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

    A severe sandstorm hit the coastal city of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Saturday, March 26 and continued into March 27. Strong southerly winds blew at the speed of 50 to 60 km/h (31 to 37 mph) seriously reducing visibility, slowing down traffic and forcing flight…

  • Active volcanoes in the world: March 16 – 22, 2016

    New activity was reported for 5 volcanoes between March 16 and 22, 2016. During the same period, ongoing activity was observed at 13 volcenoes. New activity/unrest: Alaid, Kuril Islands (Russia) | Asosan, Kyushu (Japan) | Rincon de la Vieja, Costa Rica | Sangay,…

  • Previously unknown, massive source of methanol identified

    A team of scientists from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) have identified the massive, previously unknown source of methanol in the ocean. According to the study, the phytoplankton, microscopic plant-like organisms, possess a surprising and unique…

  • Large landslide and egg-sized hailstones hit Hunan, China

    A large landslide was captured on camera on March 18, 2016, as it buried a highway in Anhua County of China’s Hunan Province. Two days later, egg-sized hailstones hit Hunan's Chenzhou city. Footage shot by a driver shows a landslide took place at 09:10 and…